Aeroplane kite



March 15 1927. 1,620,882

' E. A. .FQUNDS 'AEROPLANE KITE Filed 0012.18. 192.5 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. A. FOUNDS March 15 1927.

AEROPLANE KITE Filed Oct. 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR UN w ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES "1,6zo,ss2

PATENT oFF-Ica.

EDISON A. IOIINDS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH TO ROBERT B. GRIMES, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AEROPLANE xI'r'E.

a lication filed October 1a, 1926. Serial No. 142,400.

which is also provided with flexible means for staggering the upper front wing surface 'ahead of the lower wing surface for positioning the m'ain'wing surfaces-at a true angle of incidence relativeto the fuselage body therefor.

A further object of the invention is to providean aeroplane kite of conventional miniature design, which is particularly adapted to be readily assembled or dismantied in a minimum period of time, without the use of tools or other auxiliary equipment, one which will ride in the wind on an even horizontal heel, andone which is provided with a novel bridle cord for controlling the kite and automatically maintaining the same in a true flight position at all times.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane kite as specified which will simulate the true flight of a full size aeroplane of approved type, and in addition thereto give the familiar whirring sound by means of a propeller having apertures therein and rotatably pivoted intermediate the end of the main wing spread in front thereof, in the well-known manner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a toy aeroplane kite, as specified, which is cheap to manufacture, comprising a minimum of parts, adapted to be dismantled, compactly folded, and carried about in a convenient manner, and which provides a subject for entertainment as well as the study of sustained flight rinciples involved in the heavier than air ying machine.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detail description, and in the accompanying sheets of drawing, wherem: a

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the aeroplane kite in assembled flight positionwith the bridle control cord therefor shown in normal operating position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation in longitudinal cross section thru the assembled frame members, illustrating the manner of forming and connecting the main wing surface with the fuselage, the horizontal elevator surface to the rearendof the fuselage and the'manner of pivoting the rudder in a vertical manner on .the horizontal rudder. Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the vertical and horizontal .rear supporting and directing surface.

- Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of one of the mortised joints for re- 'ceiving one of the fuselage forming tenons.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the rear mortised joints forreceiving the rear fuselage tenons.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the aeroplane kite, hereinafter described, is a true miniature representation of the well-known tractor bi lane typean'd is indicated for general re reference character 10.

The aeroplane kite, 10, comprises a main upper and lower wing supporting surface, 11 and 12, which are each made up of two parallel sticks, 13, with a covering of paper erence by the .or fabric thereon and extended therebeclip 16, of U configuration and secured centrally over the rectangular aperture, 15, in each of said sticks, 13, to provide an abutting member for the front ends, 17, of the fuselage sticks, 18 and 19, which are adapted to fit 1n the said apertures, 15, and also to provide a vertically disposed rectangular recess extended centrally and forwardly of the said sticks, 13, for receiving the ends,

20, of the front vertical wili'g spacing strut 21, which. is likewise provided with rectangular apertures, 22, for alignment with vtheapert'ures, 15, to jointly receive the front ends, 17, of the fuselage forming sticks, 18 and 19.

A second vertical spacing strut, 23, with its ends likewise provided with a rectangular aperture, 24:, is oppositely disposed to the rear of the front strut, 21, for supporting the rear edge of the upper and lower wings, 11, and 12, with the rectangular aperture 24:, in alignment with a similar aperture 15, in

the rear sticks, 13, for passage therethru of the front portion of the fuselage forming sticks 18 and 19, in superposed parallel relation, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The rearwardly extending end portions of the fuselage forming sticks, 18 and 19, are then bowed in a ta ering manner with the rear ends 25, thereo joined together for passage thru a pair of parallel andoppositely disposed rectangular apertures, 26, which are provided on the upper surface of the sticks, 27, forming the horizontal rudder, 28, by meansof a double pair of mortised blocks, 29, which are carried by the horizontal rudder frame, 28, in a manner identical, with the blocks, 14, carried by the main wing sticks 13.

To limit the passage of the rear ends, 25, of the fuselage sticks 18 and 19, thru the mortised blocks, 29, a relatively wide U clip 30, is secured to the outer side face of the rear stick, 27, forming the horizontal rudder, 28, for the abutment of the fuselage ends 25, against the U clip 30, in a manner simi lar to that employed at the front of the kite structure.

In order to secure the main wings 11 and 12, and the horizontal rudder, 28, on the front and rear ends of the fuselage sticks, 18 and l9,'against lateral displacement, I employ a cord, 31, having one end thereof detachably secured by means of a suitable screw eye, to a point adjacent the upper end of the vertical strut, 23, and extending to and connected to the front horizontalrudder stick, 27 ,by means of another screw eye centrally secured in the said stick, 27, between the rear end portions of the fuselage sticks, 18 and 19, and then returned to a point ad'acent the lower end of the strut, 23, and etachably secured thereto,

To the cord, 31, thus extended, inwardly of and parallel with the fuselage sticks, 18

and 19, a section of paper or fabric is suitably secured thereto and extended adjacent each of the, secured ends thereof, to form a vertical wall between the said fuselage forming sticks, 18 and 19, adapted to balance the kite structure in conjunction with the vertical rudder, 32, hereinafter described.

The vertical rudder, 32, comprises a section of spring wire formed into a substantially semi-circular frame with its free ends, 33, bent to extend laterally therefrom.

The rudder, 32, is also covered with paper or fabric, and with the free ends, 33, thereof pivotally and removably inserted in suitable holes drilled in the mortised blocks, 29, immediately above the rectangular apertures,

26, therein, by springing the wire-frame-of and further provided with an opening in. each end of the brace rods, 35, for passing the extreme ends of the wing sticks, 1'3, I

therethru.

The said pivoted brace rods, 35, are held in a fixed position by means of a pair of horizontal stretch rods, 36, which are attached to the ends of the wing section, 11, in conjunction with the brace rods, 35, and provided with a suitable aperture in each end thereof, to be extended between and connected to the two upper ends of the sticks 13, forming the wing section 11, at each end thereof, to keep the upper and lower.

wing surfaces taut, as clearly shown in Fig.

1, of the drawing The said brace rods 35, are adapted to retain the stretch rods 36, which are in turn held in position on the ends of the sticks 13, forming the upper and lower wing sections 11, and 12, by means of the cords 37, having a suitable hook at each end thereof, and adapted to be attached to the ends of the brace rods 35, by means of the small apertures 37, therein, withthe opposite end of the cords 37, likewise attached to the free ends of the inner stick 27, of the horizontal rudder 28, toprevent the flexing of the fuselage members 18, and 19, and to maintain the horizontal rudder 28, in parallel alignment with the wing sections 11, and 12.

To further providefor maintaining the equilibrium of the aeroplane kite when in flight, and to prevent the bending or flexing I of the lower wing section 12, due to the downward pull of the control cord for the kite, thereon, I provide an additional pair of auxiliary wing surfaces 38, which com prise rectangular sections of paper or fabric, with suitable cords secured to the major length edges thereof, and with suitable hooks carried by the extended free ends of the cords 39, fofsecuring the said wing surfaces 38-, between the upper and lower wings 11, and 12, in a diagonal manner, with one end thereof hooked to the upper end portions of the vertical struts 21, and 23, and

with the opposite end of the'wing surfaces 38, hooked to the lower free ends of the pivoted brace rods 35.

The diverging or angularposition of the auxiliary wing surfaces 38 create tension on the centre of the upper wing 11 and .on-

V the outer endportions of the lower win" 12,

the lower wing 12, and the auxiliary wing surfaces 38, adjacent the outer ends thereof, as indicated at 40, to prevent the auxiliary wing surfaces, 38, from assuming an arcuate formation.

In order to give a realistic aeroplane appearance to the kite, and to further imitate the sound of aconventional type of heavier than air flying machine, I provide a pro-' peller, 41, which is centrally pivoted to and 'in front of the vertical strut, 21, and

adapted to be rotated at a high rate of speed by'fthe air current rushing into the face of the kite when in flight.

The said propeller is further provided with an aperture, 42, in each blade adjacent the end thereof, and said apertures of a size required to create a whirring sound upon the rotation of the propeller.

A bridle or control cord, 43, is further attached to the kite at several points,'and consists of the main or controlling cord, 44, having one end thereof secured centrally and to the under side .of the mortised block, 29, carried by the under side of the inner stick, 27, forming the horizontal rudder, 28, by means of a suitable screw eye, and extends forwardly along the longitudinal center of the kite, to a point substantially under the front edge of the lower wing, 12, where the cord, 44, is connected in the center of an auxiliary cord, 45, disposed at right angles to the main cord, 44, and connected to the ends of the front stick, 13, forming the lower wing, 12, by means of a short section of cord, 46, approximately 4" long which is normally positioned and secured in a vertical manner between the main cord, 44, and the cord, 45, as clearly shown in the drawing, the cord, 43, continuing from the joining point between the cord, 44 and 45, and provides the main control cord, 43.

The length of 4", required for the bridle cord section, 46, has been determined by pro- I tracted experiments to be the correct length for maintaining the kite in flight in the man-.

ner set forth.

In order to create an accurate miniature of approved aeroplane construction, I have provided simple means forstaggering the leading edge of the upper wing section, 11, I

slightly ahead of theleading .edgeof the lower win section, 12, by. means of a cord, '47, secure to and extended between a screw eye carriedby the upper portions of the rear vertical'strut, '23, and a similar screw eye carried by 'the'lower portion of the front 2 vertical strut, 21.

-The cord, 47, when so extended and se cured, assumes anangle of approximately 45?, and in addition to staggering the wing sections, 11 and 12, upon tensioning the cord, 47, it also imparts an angle of inci-' dence to the wing sections, Hand 12, relative to the position of the fuselage,

From the foregoing, it willbe readily apparent to those skilled'in' the art, that I have provided a novel, entertaining and highly interesting kite, of educational value in teaching the young the art of aeronautics or sustained flight, and while I have shown anddescribed one practical embodiment of my-invention, it' is to be observed that I donot limit myself to the exact details as set.

forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and modifications as fairly fall I claim: v v 1. In a knock-down aeroplane kite, the combinationof a fuselage frame and superposed plane sections including a horizontal and vertical rudder therefor, of meansv (fe tachably connecting said frame, plane sections and'horizontal rudder, auxiliary wing within the scope of the appended claims,-

surfaces positioned .and secured between equilibrium, said auxiliary wing surfaces providing means'for counteracting the pull of said cord on said plane sections and maintaining the rigidity thereof 2. Ina knock-down aeroplane'kite, the combination of a fuselage frame and superposed plane sections including a horizontal and vertical rudder therefor, of means detachably connecting said frame, plane sechaving a multiple point suspension from said kite adapted to maintain true flight equilibrium, said auxiliary wing surfaces providing means for-counteracting the pull of said cord on said plane sections to maintain the rlgidity thereof, a propeller pivoted to said first named means and disposed censtrally and forwardly of said plane sections,--,-

and means "provided in the blades of said propeller for creating a whirring sound upon the rotation thereof. I

3. In a knock-down aeroplane kite, the combination of a collapsible fuselage frame, super-posed main plane sections including a horizontal and vertical ruddertherefor, means carried by said plane sections and horizontal rudder'for slidably receiving the front and rear ends of said fuselage frame in conjunction with the vertical struts for said plane sections, means connecting said plane sections and horizontal rudder for preventing lateral ,displacement thereof, auxiliary wing surfaces angularly disposed between the said plane sections and from the center to the opposite ends thereof, a propeller rotatably pivoted to one of said vertical struts and embodying means for producing a whirring. sound upon the rotation thereof, brace members connecting the free ends of said plane sections, a plurality of cords having hooks and eyes associated therewith to provide rigging for the assembled kite, and a bridle control cord secured to said kite.

4:. In a knock-down aeroplane kite, the combination of a collapsible fuselage frame, a pair of super-posed plane sections, vertical strut means for spacing andjoining said plane sections, means carried by said plane sections for slidably receiving the spaced super-posed front ends of said fuselage frame, a horizontal rudder, meanscarried by said rudder for slidably receiving the.

joined rear ends of said fuselage frame, cord means connectlng said plane sections and horizontal rudder against lateral dis-.

placement on said fuselage ends, a vertical rudder detachably carried by said horizontal rudder, means for maintaining said vertical rudder in a fixed position, and cord means connecting said vertical struts for staggering the upper plane section ahead of the lower plane section and to provide an angle of ,incidence to the main plane surface relative to said fuselage frame.

5. In a knock-down aeroplane kite, the combination of a collapsible fuselage frame, a pair of super-posed plane sections, vertical -strut members spacing and joining said plane sections, mortised means provided in central alignment. on the major edge sur face of said plane sections for slidably receiving the spaced super-posed front ends of said fusela e frame with the simultaneous'passage 0 said front ends through the apertured upper and lower ends of said strut members, stop clips carried by saidplane sections and horizontal rudder therefor in alignment with said mortised means, hook, eyelet andcord means connecting said plane sections and horizontal rudder carried by the rear ends of said fuselage frame against lateral displacement, a vertical rudder .detachably carried by said horizontal rudder, cord guy members connecting said vertical rudder, horizontal rudder and plane sections in adjusted relation, auxiliary plane surface members angularly disposed between said plane sections and extended from the center of the upper plane section to the lower outer ends of the lower plane section, and cord means connecting said strut members for staggering said main plane sections relative to said fuselage frame.

6. In a knock-down aeroplane kite, the combination of a pair of superposed fuselage forming members, including superof said struts, means associated with said propeller for effecting a whirring sound upon the rotation thereof, auxiliary wing surfaces angularly dis osed between said main plane sections, flexiEle means secured to said vertical struts for staggering the said plane sections upon the tensioning thereof to impart an angle of'incidence to said sections relative to said fuselage members, and cord means connecting said plane sections and horizontal rudder against lateral displacement on the front and rear ends of said fuselage members.

7. Ina knock-down aeroplane kite, the combination of a fuselage frame and superposed plane sections including a horizontal and vertical rudder therefor, of means detachably connecting said frame, plane sections and horizontal rudder, including vertical struts for spacing said plane sections,

auxiliary'wing surfaces angularly secured angle of incidence to the surface thereof. I

relative to said fuselage frame and horizontal rudder, a control cord having a multiple point suspension from said kite adapted to maintain true flight equilibrium, said auxiliary wing surfaces providing means for counteracting the pull of said cord on said plane sections to maintain the rigidity thereof, a propeller pivoted to one of said struts I, and disposed centrally and forwardly of said plane sections, and means provided in the blades of said propeller adjacent their ends for creating a whirring sound upon the rotation thereof.

8. An aero lane kite comprising a fuselage frame provi ed with a horizontal tail rudder and forward upper and lower wing surfaces, a control cord with a multiple point suspension from said kite to maintain true flight equilibrium, and diverging auxiliary wing surfaces connected to the central portion of the upper wing surface and to the outer end portions of the lower wing surface, and exerting tension on said latter wing surfaces and resisting the pull on the control cord.

9. In an aeroplane kite, the combination with afuselage frame provided with tail rudders. of super-posed wing surfaces at the forward end of the fuselage frame, and auxiliary wing surface connected to the centre of the upper wing surface and diverging downwardly and laterally and connected to the outer ends of the lower wing surface creating substantial tension on said wing surfaces andrendering the kite more stable in flight.

10. In an aeroplane kite, the combination with a fuselage frame provided with tail rudders, of super-posed wing surfaces at the forward end of the fuselage frame, and auxiliary wing surface connected to the centre of the upper wing surface and diverging downwardly and laterally and connected to the outer ends of the lower wing surface creating substantial tension on said wing surfaces and rendering the kite more stable in flight, and a control cord having a multiple point sus ension from 'said kite to maintain true fight equilibrium and resist the tension exerted by the auxiliary wing surfaces.

11. In an aeroplane kite the combination with a fuselage frame comprising upper and lower members. of super-posed wing surfaces provided with operable detachable connections with the members of the fuselage frame, tail rudders provided with operabledetachable connections with the upper and lower members of the fuselage frame, and

means interposed between the members of the fuselage frame and o eratively and detachably connecting witii certain of the 'members of the wing surfaces and certain of the members of the tail rudders, to retain the elements of the kite assembled.

12. In an aeroplane kite the combination with a fuselage'frame comprising upper and lower members, of super-posed wing surfaces provided with operable detachable connections with the members of the fuselage frame, tail rudders provided with operable detachable connections with the upper and lower members of "the fuselage frame, and means interposed between the members of the fuselage frame and operatively and detachably connecting with certain of the members of the wing surfaces andcertain of the members of the tail rudders, to retain the elements of the kite assembled, and cords connecting one of the tail rudders and the outer ends of the upper wing surface to hold such parts in their co-relative positions andrender them more stable in flight.

13. In an aeroplane kite, the combination with afuselage frame provided with tail rudders, of super-posed wing surfaces at the forward end of the fuselage frame, and auxiliary wing surface connected to the centre of the upper wing surface and diverging downwardly and laterally and connected to the outer ends of the lower wing surface creating substantial tension on said. wing' surfaces-and rendering the kite more stable in flight. and means connecting the edges of the auxiliary wing surfaces and those of the lower wing surface, thereby preventing the auxiliary win surfaces from assuming arcuate formation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDISON A. FOUNDS. 

